Few distance runners would call 13.1 miles a pleasure trip. But tack on a post-race party with your girls, next day massages at an award-winning spa or a Michelin-starred meal, and that’s what you’ve got.

To find races fit for a weekend, we looked at halves that were held on unique courses in travel-worthy destinations with lots to do and with ho-hassle logistics. Props for those held on Saturdays … more time to recover from the, ahem, race.

OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon

Saturday, May 4; $75

The 35,000-participant OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, held in Indianapolis, is one of the nation’s largest halves, the seventh-largest road race in the United States and the 18th largest in the world: In 2012, runners represented all 50 states and 11 countries. The course takes you through the vibrant downtown district, past the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and back. If your prefer bottles of wine over the Brickyard, the Indy Wine Trail includes seven award-winning wineries, all within minutes of downtown Indianapolis. At night, the city comes alive with great music venues, such as the Slippery Noodle Inn, the oldest watering hole in Indiana and considered one of the best blues bars in the U.S. Catch a show after visiting the Sun King Brewery (try the Osiris Pale Ale).

The Great Wall Half-Marathon

Saturday, May 18; prices vary based on travel package

Not a race for the faint-hearted, the Great Wall Half Marathon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and is consistently ranked as one of the 10 races worth traveling for. While pricey (entry must be purchased as part of a 6- or 7-day travel package upward of $1,250 a person, not including airfare), you’ll have a chance to run along one of the seven wonders of world, on a closed course, with 360-degree views of China’s countryside. The route starts near the village of Huangyaguan, a couple hours northeast of Beijing, and heads straight to the Wall. It’s a tough, beautiful and extraordinary experience. Anticipate this race taking 50-percent longer that any other half given the extreme ascent and decent (there’s an 8-hour time limit). The 5,164 steps of the Great Wall will put your physique to the test (you’ll hit a wall, literally), and the breathtaking surroundings of Tianjin Province will compete with your tired muscles for attention. It’s an ideal way to combine an unusual running event with exploring one of the world’s most astonishing sights. Run it as a full, half or family 10k.

Allstate Life Insurance Miami Beach 13.1 Marathon

Saturday, March 9; $85 until March 3

Make it a Spring Break getaway. Start on the scenic Ocean Drive, take in the Art Deco-style buildings, run across bridges and tropical waterways, and end your run with a major white party on South Beach. Sure, there’s sun, sand and surf, but Miami is also home to award-winning chefs and restaurants such as Florida Cookery, Exit 1 and Preston’s at Loews Miami Beach Hotel, and as host of the annual Art Basel, the most prestigious air fair in the world, the city is ripe with some of the world’s most respected art galleries.

The LA Marathon

Sunday, March 17; $175

Runners World named the LA Marathon the “Best Big City Race” of 2013. Instead of committing to a full 26.2, run as part of a charity relay team. You and a partner split the distance as part of the “I Run 4 Something” campaign and support one of the 60 participating charities. Plus, the course is hella cool: start at Dodger Stadium, east through Echo Park and Silver Lake, through West Hollywood, past stunning Beverly Hills mansions and an finish line end near the Santa Monica pier. And given the St. Patrick’s Day timing, stay in Santa Monica and celebrate with green beer and a festive party scene at Barney’s Beanery, Brick and Mortar or The Yard.

Allstate Life Insurance New York City 13.1 Marathon

Saturday, March 23; $95 before March 17

Disco down in Queens (oh yeah, there’s an official post race party complete with ’70s tunes) after a nice little jaunt through the historic Flushing Meadows Corona Park, site of the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fair. The race begins in front of Arthur Ashe Stadium, home to the U.S. Open, and winds through the park, passing the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Wildlife Center, and the Unisphere, a 12-story high, spherical stainless steel replica of Earth. The southern end of the course loops around Meadow Lake, returning back into the park for a second loop and finishing with post race beers and music. Stay a day or two longer to take in the arts & culture scene of Brooklyn and Queens. Book a room at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, which boasts stunning panoramic Manhattan views at the rooftop bar, check out the latest installations at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (aka BAM), and book a lunch reso inside MoMA PS1 at M.Wells in Long Island City, Queens.

Oasis Rock ‘n’ Roll Montreal Marathon & Half-Marathon

Sunday, September 22; $105 until May 31

It’s the best of both worlds: work hard, play hard. Another glass of wine? Go for it. You just ran 13.1 miles—you earned it. Course highlights include a nice downhill run over the Jacques Cartier Bridge, logging 3+ miles on the Grand Prix race track and running through Old Montreal, flanked with European shops and apartments that emit an Old World vibe. Have dinner at Pastaga (named one of the best new restaurants of 2012 by the Montreal Gazette), stroll through 30 thematic settings at the Botanical Gardens and linger in the Jean-Talon Market, an open-air food paradise that entices with aromas of grilling sausages, Quebecois cheeses, mounds of fresh produce, home-grown spices and handmade chocolates.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Oslo Half-Marathon

Saturday, June 15; 500 Norwegian kroner, or about $91 (exchange-rate dependent), by March 14 (online registration closes June 8)

During this race, you get to run through the capital of Norway. That’s pretty rad. Runners will experience 13.1 miles of live entertainment along the picturesque route. Extend your trip and explore the city’s cultural attractions such as the Oslo Opera House (home to the city’s ballet and opera), and take in the original “Scream” painting by Edvard Munch at The National Museum. Make sure you leave time for the Oslo Fjord region. You’ll find mountains and cliffs dropping off into clear blue water with red and blue cottages dotting the coast.

This location launched the domestic, and now international, 33-city full and half Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon series. The course is flat and fast, so if you’re looking to beat your PR, this is your race. Live bands every few miles keep energy levels up and the sunny, dry weather and gorgeous beaches allow for a perfect early summer vacay. A headliner concert is held immediately after the race (last year Donovan Frankenreiter performed) and the city is home to some of the best nightlight on the Pacific. Catch a concert at Belly Up in Solana Beach and grab fish tacos at World Famous in Pacific Beach. Want to be pampered? Book massages and stay for brunch at the chic Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island.

Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half-Marathon

Sunday, November 17; $145

The Vegas strip is only shut down twice a year: New Years Eve and the marathon. Sport your neon night gear (we love Brooks) and sprint down the strip at night. The 4:30 p.m. late afternoon start means that you’ll finish with ample time to hit up Hyde at the Bellagio or Encore’ XS. Arrive on the Friday before the race and check into a Stay Well room at the MGM Grand. Designed by Delos (Deepak Chopra is an advisory board member), the Stay Well rooms have a Vitamin C shower infusion (to neutralize the chlorine in the water, natch), wake-up light therapy and a dawn simulator in place of a traditional, beeping, alarm clock. Take in a world-class show (we like Zarkana at Aria) and book post-race foot massages at Canyon Ranch in the Venetian. If you’ve noticed a hitch in your step, have a gait analysis by one of the Canyon Ranch experts.